Answering God's Call
What is a calling? Many people live each day just for the moment. Is it possible to be so busy that we miss out on what eternally matters? Most ask, “How will I die” but the better question is, “How will I LIVE until I die.” Living the safest life possible is not the goal of following Christ. I love the story of Isaiah. If you haven't read the book of Isaiah, I urge you to check it out! Although he was a leader in a dark time during Israel's history, he stepped up to God's call. The story in Isaiah 6 explains his experience with God in the temple. Isaiah was awakened to the holiness of God. He realized that God was on His throne despite the pain of life. Isaiah was humbled by God's presence and responded.
Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” Isaiah 6:8
Up to this point, Isaiah had not heard the voice of God. Why does God ask the question? He did not create robots. He could have created us as robots. God is waiting for hearts who are ready to serve Him!
How do we answer God’s Call?
1. Trust Christ (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
God’s will is found when we decide to be courageous about following Jesus. Isaiah heard God’s voice once and trusted Him! If you lose your life in Christ you will find it. Trusting Jesus is the first step to understand all of life. If priorities are not solely based upon a relationship with Jesus, you will become distracted with the cares of the world and not the heartbeat of eternity.
2. Listen. God is doing something in you so that He can do something through you. We must abide in Him. Obeying God's call is a daily surrender of self. It is listening and being sensitive to His leading in our lives.
3. Be Available. “Here am I...Send me!” We are plan A, God does not have a plan B. If you lose your life in Christ you will find it. A servant asks, “What can I do for others?” instead of “What can they do for me? Being comfortable is a cancer that consumes a passion for God. Whenever I become fearful I remember these words from God:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Answering the call is by saying “yes” to whatever God says. It is to surrender control of your life to the call of God. Sometimes the road seems uncertain but we serve a God who leads us through every step of the way. May we all be courageous about fulfilling God's call on our lives!
What is a true friend?
Friends are our, “Amigos, buddies, pals, bros, comrades, and your posse.” God has wired us for friendship. We crave it and hunger for acceptance. Many times we make dumb mistakes just to be accepted and feel like we belong in a group. Friendship is a powerful aspect of life. How do we build true friends? What does a godly friendship look like? Are they just a person we have “fun” with?
“He who walks with the wise grows wise; but a companion of fools suffers harm (Proverbs 13:20 NIV).
"Companion of fools." Your greatest regrets revolve around being with friends.
"Suffers Harm." It is much more about who you are with, than what you are doing.
What does it mean to be a “friend?” A trustworthy person you mutually choose to love and to encourage in order to bring God glory.
- A friend admits when they are wrong and repents. A friend pushes you towards God instead of away.
- A friend is under authority. Humility defines their heart.
- A friend will encourage you even when you fail
- A friend will encourage you to live for Jesus.
- A friend knows you deeply and loves you unconditionally
What is influence? The action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others. The people closest to you have access to your heart and mind. Who you surround yourself with has powerful influence over your decisions and future.
If your friends are not very concerned about their lives, they are not going to be concerned about yours. A true friend cares for your soul.
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Friends influence us and have the opportunity to make an impact on our lives. Your friends are like the bottoms on an elevator. They will either take you up or take you down.
Strengths Finder 2.0 Results
I recently took the strengths finder test! In the past I have taken the myers-brigg, DISC, spiritual gift and the 5 love language inventories. All of these are helpful tools to understanding yourself and how to effectively lead others. I enjoyed the strengths finder test because of its focus upon building leadership strengths.
To help people uncover their talents, Gallup introduced the first version of its online assessment, StrengthsFinder, in the 2001 management book Now, Discover Your Strengths. The book spent more than five years on the bestseller lists and ignited a global conversation, while StrengthsFinder helped millions to discover their top five talents.
Below are my top 5 strengths:
1. Belief - People who are especially talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their life.
2. Woo - People who are especially talented in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person
3. Positivity - People who are especially talented in the Positivity theme have an enthusiasm that is contagious. They are upbeat and can get others excited about what they are going to do.
4. Strategic - People who are especially talented in the Strategic theme create alternative ways to proceed. Faced with any given scenario, they can quickly spot the relevant patterns and issues.
5. Responsibility - People who are especially talented in the Responsibility theme take psychological ownership of what they say they will do. They are committed to stable values such as honesty and loyalty.